Archive for the ‘skillet’ Category

Sex, drugs, rock & roll. It is an adage that is almost as old as the historic genre itself. It’s interpretation may vary, but it is a well known fact that it has been a phrase that the majority of hard-rock acts over the past few decades have lived by. The wild excesses that the lifestyle has to offer are often championed by the rock stars who live it and coveted by those who dream of experiencing it. But the carefree, carpe diem mindset that most contemporary rockers live by isn’t for everyone; namely, the four self-professed Jesus-freaks from Skillet.

As you could probably imagine, the grammy-nominated alternative rock outfit from Memphis doesn’t exactly fit the sex, drugs, rock & roll mold. Headed up by lead vocalist and bassist John Cooper, Skillet has an interesting and diverse lineup comprised of a nineteen-year-old female drum prodigy in Jen Ledger, a dynamic lead guitarist in Ben Kasica, and Cooper’s wife, Korey, on rhythm guitar, keys, and backing vocals.

Having proven their status and success with eight albums and frequent appearances on the Billboard 200 along the way, the band is back with their newest release, Awake. Combining Cooper’s gritty vocals with the sonorous melodies of his wife, the band wastes no time launching into a balanced meld of symphonic rock with the opener, “Hero.” First time listeners will immediately make the comparison to Evanescence, but their is a greater depth to Cooper’s lyrics as he discusses the weaknesses of Man and his inability to save himself from his own inevitable destruction: “Who’s gonna fight for the weak / Who’s gonna make ’em believe / I’ve got a hero (I’ve got a hero) / Livin’ in me.”

“Monster,” the second track on Awake, continues the onslaught of low-end bass and gritty distortion as Cooper and his raspy vocal chords rip through the head-banging chorus. But the quintessential Skillet is found on “Awake And Alive,” possibly the best track on the album. Opening with a dark, foreboding set of strings melodizing under the heavy staccato strumming of distorted guitars, the track explodes into another epic chorus that is sure to have fans pumping their fists and singing along. From here on out, Cooper and crew do a masterful job of maintaining the energy throughout the album, using keys and various orchestral arrangements to serve as unique catalysts on the lighter songs.

Awake is as heavy and powerful musically as it is inspirational and uplifting lyrically. This album proves that a band with strong religious convictions––who may not necessarily conform to the rock-and-roll lifestyle––still know how to rock.

Since Skillet last hit the studio for 2006’s breakthrough project Comatose, the group’s toured with the likes of Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, Seether and Flyleaf, followed by a solo headlining ranking within Pollstar’s Concert Pulse Top 50 Tours for 2008. Along the way, the Grammy-nominated alternative outfit also scored three top 40 singles on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock charts, earned a pair of BMI Songwriting Awards and released its first ever concert CD/DVD combo pack in support of the season called Comatose Comes Alive.

Aside from the commercial accolades, the Grammy-nominated modern rockers are rapidly approaching gold sales status, backed by both public adoration and critical praise, making the brand new Awake (Atlantic) the band’s most anticipated album to date. Not only does Skillet continue in the tradition of bone crunching rockers and melodic power ballads that comprised the last trip to the studio, but there’s a noticeable evolution sure to connect with longtime listeners and open the floodgates of its fan base even further than ever before.

“We found Comatose scoring the most acceptance in terms of album sales, ticket sales and radio airplay out of any of our albums so far, so there’s certainly a continuation of that direction,” unveils singer/songwriter/bassist John Cooper of the current collection. “But we never want to make the same record twice and that’s why Awake keeps it fresh and surprising. We’ve built off several of the epic elements, orchestration, piano parts and male/female vocal trade offs on several songs, but there’s also a balance of straight up rock stuff and tunes that are a little bit stripped down in comparison.”

In addition to the increasingly cohesive chemistry by the famed front man, keyboardist/vocalist Korey Cooper, guitarist Ben Kasica and drummer/vocalist Jen Ledger, having all-star producer Howard Benson (Daughtry, My Chemical Romance, P.O.D., The All American Rejects, Hoobastank) behind the boards helped the band reach its most compelling conclusion to date.

“He’s been a favorite producer of ours for quite a long time and we’ve talked about working with him in the past, but this time all the pieces finally fell into place,” affirms Cooper. “Howard is a broad stroke painter where he casts a vision, but then incorporates that into what a band is already all about. He really has a knack for the elements an audience enjoys the most, which often times are the vocals and the lyrics, and then he gives the band a chance to be themselves and be proud of the artistic output.”

And that’s the exact result on all accounts, as the foursome’s overwhelmingly satisfied with the entire sonic and thematic palette throughout Awake, which is loaded with plenty of anthems in the making destined to be smash singles and concert sing-a-longs. Even though Skillet possesses undeniable accessibility to this latest batch of tunes, there are still plenty of sophisticated arrangements, unpredictable chord arrangements and mounds of musical integrity all across the board.

“It’s a turning of the page for us because this album is even more immediate than Comatose, but there’s also a noticeable maturity,” contends Cooper. “Some of the songs are complex, others are just really intense rockers and overall there’s a real sense that we’re opening a new chapter. There are definitely some classic rock elements on the record, traces of glam rock and a lot of today’s heavy rock influences as well. Depending on the song, you can hear traces of AC/DC, Metallica or Breaking Benjamin, with lots of big guitars and streamlined drum beats.”

Take for instance the searing lead single “Monster,” which is just as ominous as its moniker implies, loaded with towering riffs and unbridled rock n’ roll abandon. Other aggressive outpourings include the hook heavy “Hero” and the militant “It’s Not Me,” while several fist pumpers possess dramatic orchestration, such as the unshakably infectious “You Should Have” and the carpe diem ode “One Day Too Late.” Of course, no well rounded alternative album would be complete without a handful of gripping ballads, like the loss-centered “Lucy” and the melodic masterpiece “Don’t Wake Me.”

Skillet’s massive fan base (who affectionately refer to themselves as “Panheads”) are sure to agree, though they’ll likely be even more impressed with the lyrical outpouring, which remains a top priority for the players. Mixing socially conscious topics with deeply personal narratives and unabashedly hopeful expressions, Awake is just as emotional as it is provocative.

“We’re living in crazy times right now between the news that seems to get crazier every day and all the uncertainly throughout society in general,” concludes Cooper. “Sometimes it doesn’t seem like there’s hope, and sure you can choose to give up, but why not face it ‘Awake and Alive’? Why let what’s going on around you keep you down when there’s so much hope that a new day can bring? Everything we sing about on this album is something someone can relate to, and if anything, the songs will let you know you’re not alone.”